Author: ontheshelfbookblog

It’s 1997, and 14-year-old Juliet has it pretty good. But over the course of the next two years, she rapidly begins to unravel, finding herself in a downward trajectory of mental illness and self-destruction that eventually leads to a ‘therapeutic boarding school’ in rural Oregon.

From there, deep in the woods of the Northwest, comes an explosive portrayal of teenage life from the perspective of The Bad Friend, and a poignant reflection that refuses the traditional recovery arc.

Voted by both Bustle and Nylon as a most anticipated novel of 2019, this portrait of a young teenager’s fight toward understanding and recovering from mental illness is shockingly dark, funny, and heartfelt.

A highly anticipated debut—from a writer hailed as “a combination of Denis Johnson and Joan Didion” (Dazed)—brilliantly captures the intimate triumph of a girl’s struggle to become the woman she knows she can be.

Like Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Cat Marnell’s How to Murder Your Life, Juliet the Maniac offers no clear answers, no definitive finish-line, just the wise acceptance of the challenges ahead. This punchy debut marks the breakout of a bold and singular young writer.

Sometimes your reading schedule really needs a palate cleanser – you know, something that really stands out from everything you’ve read recently and makes you sit up and take notice. I’ve been reading a lot of historical novels this month for some reason and when I picked up Juliet the Maniac after these, the effect was the equivalent of spending a month listening to Classic FM and then walking into a room with a gig in full swing from The Clash. Juliet the Maniac stood out for all of the right reasons and I’m so happy to be joining the Blog Tour today.

Juliet Escoria’s novel reminded me of the first time I read Prozac Nation. It hits you right between the eyes and definitely does not pull any punches. The writing style is fresh and invigorating, I know that she’s attracting a lot of comparisons – from Sylvia Plath to Denis Johnson – but the truth is that Juliet Escoria has a voice all of her own and it’s a startling and very impressive one.

It was intriguing that her character Juliet shares a name with her and it did make me wonder how autobiographical this novel actually was. I loved the strapline that indicated that this novel is ‘a girl’s struggle to become the woman she knows she can be’ and I wondered if Julia Escoria is the woman that this character became…maybe one day I’ll hear her speak and find out for myself

Juliet is a character that you won’t forget in a hurry. Just like Elizabeth Wurtzel in Prozac Nation or Cat Marnell in her writing, you feel torn at times between wanting to hug her and wanting to give her a bloody good shake. Her drug use is not something that I could sympathise with, but the torment, the voices and the agony she was going through was so vividly described that it was very difficult to sit in judgement of her. One of the things that stood out to me was the use of language and how Juliet’s pain is so evocatively described. It’s a haunting read and not one for the faint-hearted – but definitely, a book that you will not forget in a hurry.

The novel is structured in four distinct sections, each one dealing with a part of her mental health journey and this allows you to experience the highs and lows alongside her. It is quite relentless at times to be on this journey alongside her, but the structure allows you to experience these situations in bite-size pieces and this is a more manageable experience for such a hard-hitting read.

Escoria’s writing is razor-sharp and will challenge her readers’ preconceived ideas about mental health. It was hard to believe that this is a debut novel as her voice is so assured – I will definitely be looking out for whatever she does next as her skills at bringing a character to life, vividly on the page are remarkable and I’m definitely not going to forget Juliet in a hurry…

I would like to thank Melville House for a copy of Juliet The Maniac to read and review and to Nikki Griffiths for inviting me onto the blogtour. Doesn’t it look fabulous in my #OnTheShelfie

Writer On The Shelf

JULIET ESCORIA is the author of the poetry collection WITCH HUNT (Lazy Fascist Press 2016) and the story collection BLACK CLOUD (CCM/Emily Books 2014), which were both listed in various best of the year roundups.

Her writing can be found in places like Lenny, Catapult, VICE, Prelude, Dazed, and Hobart and has already been translated into many languages.

She lives in West Virginia with her husband, the writer Scott McClanahan.

It is 1976 and Mikey, eight-years-old and street-wise beyond his years, is looking forward to a summer of freedom, roaming the creeks and the mud-flats of Canvey Island. But violent emotions are rumbling beneath the surface, about to destroy all that he thought he knew.

When Mikey’s neighbours, the Freemans, win a great deal of money, the old couple become the targets of a criminal act that leaves Peggy Freeman dead and her husband, Bert thirsting for revenge. Believing that young Mikey’s family is responsible, Bert devises a highly unusual but devastatingly effective form of reprisal. But where does the guilt really lie, and will there be punishment or redemption?

Told from Mikey’s viewpoint with light touches of humour, A Patient Man is a gripping crime novel peopled with believable characters who are drawn inexorably in to a story that explores the effects of greed, money and the human need for retribution.

Nine-year-old Mikey has a pretty distinctive voice, and this novel stays in your thoughts precisely because his voice is so very memorable. Mikey grows up wild, combing the vast and empty mudflats of Canvey Island, in a world before technology or games consoles kept children indoors and where their childhoods were a little more ‘free-range’ Thank you so much to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and taking me down memory lane for some of these experiences!

Mikey’s childhood setting has a lot in common with mine – where building dens, skinning your knees and going on ‘adventure’ kept us out of doors from dawn til dusk and where our parents knew very little about the kinds of things we were up to ( which is probably for the best)

Mikey’s adventures definitely go a bit further than we ever did and although this read might alienate some readers because of its very distinct writing style, I really enjoyed finding out about Mikey’s adventures and wondering exactly where this was all going to end.

Scott’s novel is a fantastically evocative portrayal of this era and makes you remember a time where life literally did feel like it was rolling past in ‘black and white’ rather than in colour. Mikey and his circle are brought to life pitch perfectly and I felt like this novel was the equivalent of Morrissey singing ‘Every Day is like Sunday’ as we feel trapped with Mikey in his world of poverty, stagnation and a lack of escape.

The murder of a neighbour is an aspect of the novel, rather than the main event in this novel and I found this quite an intriguing approach. Mikey’s reflections on life and how he views the world around him are treated with just as much interest as the crime and this feels very true-to-life and makes you feel drawn into this adolescent world very effectively

You are not presented with any easy or neat solutions in this novel and you will definitely end the novel wondering if what happened really was in Mikey’s best interests after all. Blood, after all, is thicker than water…

This was an enjoyable read for me and I will be curious to see what Scott does next as it will be hard to create another character as believable as Mikey. This novel grew on me as I read it and I have found myself thinking about Mikey and his story a fair bit since I finished reading it. Treat yourself to a copy and meet Mikey for yourself

Writer On The Shelf

S. Lynn Scott began her adult life determined to take the theatrical world by storm. The theatrical world, it turned out, wasn’t quite so keen to embrace her as she had expected it would be, and so, nothing daunted, she successfully turned her undoubted talents to Terpsichorean entertainment in dark, exotic places.

There she learned that a jewelled bra and a very large feathered fan are no substitutes for a good book and a cheese and Branston Pickle sandwich. Her further youthful adventures are, mercifully, lost in the mists of time and she now lives with suitable decorum in Leicestershire where she writes, insists on directing others who are better at acting than she is, dreams of working for the RSC and then writes some more.

“Elizabeth, William…and Me” was her debut novel. A Patient Man is her second novel.

Mary Shields is a moody, acerbic probation offer, dealing with some of Glasgow’s worst cases, and her job is on the line. Liam Macdowall was imprisoned for murdering his wife, and he’s published a series of letters to the dead woman, in a book that makes him an unlikely hero – and a poster boy for Men’s Rights activists.

Liam is released on licence into Mary’s care, but things are far from simple. Mary develops a poisonous obsession with Liam and his world, and when her son and Liam’s daughter form a relationship, Mary will stop at nothing to impose her own brand of justice … with devastating consequences.

A heart-pounding, relentless and chilling psychological thriller, rich with deliciously dark and unapologetic humour, Worst Case Scenario is also a perceptive, tragic and hugely relevant book by one of the most exciting names in crime fiction.

A deliciously dark, unapologetically funny psychological thriller by the international bestselling author of The Cry

‘It takes a special kind of evil genius to write crime this dark and make it this funny. I feel like ONLY Helen FitzGerald could have created this book. Shocking, gripping and laugh-out-loud hilarious from the first line to the last. Brilliant’ Erin Kelly

‘The main character is one of the most extraordinary you’ll meet between the pages of a book’ Ian Rankin

It’s fantastic to be taking part in the #BlogTour for a book I fell head over heels for – Helen Fitzgerald’s “Worst Case Scenario”. Orenda books are the very best that there are and I know that if Karen has chosen a book then I’m going to absolutely love it. Thanks to the lovely Anne Cater at Randomthingstours for inviting me to take part – she knows what I like and always recommends great reads that keep my bookshelf groaning at the seams…

Helen Fitzgerald is definitely a writer at the top of her game and I could not put this book down once I’d started it over my half-term break in gorgeous Elie. It was the perfect book to take on holiday with me as it certainly gave me a great deal of food for thought as I relaxed in the sunshine.

This really is a book with something for everyone. It’s perfectly pitched as a social commentary, a thriller and it’s also darkly hilarious at times. What an addictive combination. Mary’s battles against the system – and the menopause – are brilliantly depicted and she definitely comes alive on the page even as her world is unravelling all around her. I love a book where the main character has you from the very first page and Mary’s first few meetings will have you hanging on her every word – whilst feeling like you are on the edge of your seat wondering just howthis is all going to end…

Mary’s job is definitely unenviable and if you find it difficult to think about the world that she inhabits – peopled with paedophiles and violent offenders – then this might not be the novel for you. Mary is a survivor, but even her strategies are wearing thin as she battles a system where it is almost impossible to feel like you are making any sort of difference.

Mary’s voice is distinctive and laugh-out-loud funny at times, whether battling her supervisor or the loathsome Jimmy McKinley and you will definitely be rooting for her even though it’s fair to say that she is not a big believer in following protocols, biting her tongue or keeping herself out of bother.

This book has some absolutely killer lines – and that’s one of the things that made it such a perfect holiday read. Again, if you are easily offended by some pretty ‘choice’ language and feel queasy thinking about violent crimes then this might not do it for you – but I fell for Mary hook line and sinker and couldn’t tear myself away from her story until I found out how things were going to end. What a read!

Her relationship with Liam MacDowell was perfectly portrayed and I would love to see it evolve on camera. This would make a perfect TV adaptation and I’m really praying that someone sees sense and brings Mary and her exploits to our screens sooner rather than later. I think that she’s a cult heroine in the making and some of her ‘killer lines’ could definitely catch on in a big way…

If you like your novels compelling and witty, with a side order of black humour then I definitely recommend that you treat yourself to a copy. Maybe not one for the easily offended or squeamish, but certainly a novel that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go and one that I couldn’t stop thinking about since I finished reading it.

I ended up re-reading sections to myself for its turns of phrase and really can’t wait for someone else I know to read it so we can talk about the world it depicts. I would love to recommend it to my book group and see what they made of it as there is certainly a lot to discuss here and I know that some of them would love Mary’s attitude and get as caught up in her story as I was. You should definitely try and get yourself a copy as soon as you can and get to know Mary for yourself. She’s some woman!

Ian Rankin’s recommendation surely holds more weight than mine, so what are you waiting for?

Writer on the Shelf

Helen FitzGerald is the bestselling author of ten adult and young adult thrillers, including The Donor (2011) and The Cry (2013), which was longlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and is now a major drama for BBC1.

Helen worked as a criminal justice social worker for over fifteen years.

She grew up in Victoria, Australia. She now lives in Glasgow with her husband.

‘An enchanting contribution to the popular new trend of “up lit” such as Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine‘ Irish Times

‘Captivates. William has what seems to be the best job in the world . . . Honest yet lyrical, Cullen’s characters are drawn with sympathy. Lose yourself’ The Scotsman

Inside East London’s Dead Letters Depot, William Woolf unites lost mail with its intended recipient. White mice, a miniature grandfather clock and a full suit of armour are among the more unusual items lost then found thanks to William’s detective work.

But when he discovers a series of letters addressed only to ‘My Great Love’, everything changes. Written by Winter to a soulmate she hasn’t yet met, her heartfelt words stir William in ways he has long forgotten. Could they be destined for him? But what about his troubled marriage?

William must follow the clues in Winter’s letters to solve the mystery of his own heart.

SHORTLISTED FOR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR, IRISH BOOK AWARDS

‘If you liked Harold Fry and Me Before You, you will love Cullen’s nostalgic debut. This life-affirming book will draw you in and keep you there’ Independent
‘Delightful’ Sunday Times

‘Deeply moving’ Irish Times

‘I found myself totally transported into William’s poignant and beguiling world of lost opportunities and love’ A. J. Pearce, author of Sunday Timesbestseller Dear Mrs Bird

Am so happy to be on today’s Blog Tour of The Lost Letters of William Woolf after being so intrigued by other lovely bloggers’ posts about how much they loved this book. I am a fan of the ‘up lit’ trend in general and think it’s great that there are a growing number of writers crafting novels that both entertain you and make you feel good about human nature. Portybelle – otherwise known as Joanne – wrote a fantastic #WilliamWoolf post that made me want to meet William myself and hopefully be as charmed as she was by his character and his story.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a warm and uplifting read that will genuinely draw you into its world and make you feel part of East London’s Dead Letters Depot as you discover how hard they work to connect people with their lost or missing mail. I have a real obsession with ‘found’ objects and have a wee box of strange writings that I’ve found in charity shops stuck inside books and I think that this is something that made me all the more intrigued by William’s job and the lengths he goes to in the story to find the real tale behind the letter addressed to ‘My Great Love’…

William was without a doubt a fantastic character that you can totally believe in. When he gets so drawn into the story behind the letters he finds, it’s an easy sentiment to connect with – I’m sure lots of you will have had that feeling when you hear a snatch of conversation or see a scribbled note and wonder what the ‘story’ is behind the story and this wonderful novel allows to to relive that feeling alongside William and work with him to follow the thread of the story and try to find its source.

William’s determined efforts to get to the heart of Winter’s story by following the clues in her letters is definitely one of the best things about #WilliamWoolf. You really care what happens to the characters in this book and find yourself thinking about them when you are ‘away’ from them and wanting to return to their story. I was really drawn in and was imagining all sorts of resolutions to the story – Was William going to find Winter and BE her ‘Great Love’ or was he destined to get back together with his own lost love Clare and prove that reality is better than a daydream. You all know that I have a strict #NoSpoilers policy, so all I can say is that you will need to buy the book for yourself and get as lost in William’s story as I did so that you can find out for yourself.

Helen Cullen has written this book from the heart, and it shows. It presents us with such a number of intriguing tales and characters that it immediately made me want to go out there and start writing letters to all the people far away that matter to me – as it made me think about the fact that it’s so rare to get anything other than bills and admin through or letterbox in the modern world. I’d absolutely love to hear that this book has been optioned for our screens in the future. I’d love to be able to cast these characters and think it would be an awesome and heartwarming film that would be a real antidote to some of the depressing things we are currently surrounded by.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Sriya from Penguin Books for inviting me to participate in the Blog Tour – I certainly have loved this novel every single bit as much as I had hoped to and it’s been an honour to read it and share its story – I’m totally certain that it’s going to be an amazing success.

Buy yourself a copy here and read it as soon as you can, you definitely won’t regret treating yourself to this uplifting, sincere and heartfelt read

Writer On The Shelf

Helen Cullen is an Irish writer living in London. She worked at RTE (Ireland’s national broadcaster) for seven years before moving to London in 2010. In the UK, Helen established a career as an events and engagement specialist before joining the Google UK marketing team in 2015.

The first draft of her debut novel THE LOST LETTERS OF WILLIAM WOOLF was written while completing the Guardian/UEA novel writing programme under the mentorship of Michèle Roberts. Helen holds an M.A. Theatre Studies from UCD and is currently completing an M.A. English Literature at Brunel University.

‘The Lost Letters of William Woolf’ will be published in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Greece and Israel.

A young woman is found dead on the outskirts of St Petersburg on a freezing January morning. There are no signs of injury, and heavy snowfall has buried all trace of an attacker.

Captain Natalya Ivanova’s investigation quickly links the victim to the Decembrists, an anti-Putin dissident group whose acts of civil disobedience have caught the eye of the authorities. And Natalya soon realises she is not the only one interested in the case, as government security services wade in and shut down her investigation almost before it has begun.

Before long, state media are spreading smear stories about the dead woman, and Natalya suspects the authorities have something to hide. When a second rebel activist goes missing, she is forced to go undercover to expose the truth. But the stakes are higher than ever before. Not only could her pursuit of the murderer destroy her career, but her family ties to one of the victims threaten to tear her personal life apart.

A captivating, pacy thriller that plunges right into the beating heart of Putin’s Russia.

‘One of my favorite procedurals with a female lead set overseas was the Saudi trilogy by Zoe Ferraris. If the next two are as unique and satisfying as this, Abson’s place beside Ferraris will be well earned.’ MenReadingBooks.com

‘Scandinavian noir takes a detour through Russia in this first in a new series featuring an idealistic policewoman surrounded by compromised officials and fellow policemen. . . Gritty, dark, fast-paced, and satisfying. Sno-Isle Libraries

GD Abson has cultivated contacts in the St Petersburg police force in order to write this novel and it shows – though he wears his learning lightly and it never feels crow-barred in. This gripping, fascinating and unusual read never feels like a lecture – it makes you think deeply about a wide range of topical issues whilst keeping you absolutely wrapped in its narrative and it is definitely one of Abson’s strengths as a writer that we never feel as if his research has merely found its way into a novel.

Having enjoyed Motherland so much, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Black Wolf as I loved his writing style and pacy narrative. I have always wanted to travel to beautiful St Petersburg and I loved literally following in Natalya Ivanova’s footsteps in trying to solve this fascinating case.

I hate spoilers, so I don’t want to dwell too long on the plot of Black Wolf – suffice to say that the skilful way that Abson weaves ingredients of this thriller into a convincing depiction of Putin’s Russia is superbly done and remains convincing throughout. I know at times it can feel like the fictional world is saturated with crime and thriller novels but this is a pleasing departure for me and I zipped through it over a sunny weekend, lost in its twists and turns and desperate to reach the heart of the mystery.

I loved the way that this novel wove many threads together – a convincing detective story, a consideration of modern espionage and its impact on society, an examination of the nature of protest and the impact it can have on our lives in a much wider way than we might have anticipated – and I also enjoyed the fantastically realised setting of the novel that definitely made me resolve to read more texts set abroad this year and try to expose myself to novels set in other cultures and countries on a more regular basis.

Dissidents and their travails isn’t a topic that I’m normally drawn to but his novel never allows you to forget is that that this actually happen all the time Although this is a novel, the events that you are reading about have definitely happened to many people, many times and I think that Abson balances this fine tissue of truth and fiction perfectly. No one reading this book could possibly ignore the fact that this is not just a fictional crisis and it’s been a hard book to follow as I find myself continuously thinking back to it and thinking about the way that we express ourselves in a 21st century post-truth world where alliances are ever more complex than they appear.

Black Wolf is definitely one of those novels that stays with you long after closing its final page and one that I will definitely be recommending to my friends – it packs a powerful emotional punch; educates just as much as it entertains and makes you wish that you could step into this intriguing world for yourself. If you enjoy an immersive and intelligent read that will ask you to think about your own attitudes and examine the way that you think about modern politics and challenge your preconceptions then you will love this book as much as I did. I can’t wait to see what G.D Abson does next…

Follow the Blog Tour and catch up with what the rest of these fab bloggers thought

Thanks so much to Mel from Mirror Books for inviting me onto the tour.

Writer On The Shelf

G.D. ABSON works as a freelance business analyst and lives in the South West of England. He has cultivated contacts in the St Petersburg police force in order to write this novel, and has more Natalya Ivanova crime novels planned.

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough; Mark a handsome investment banker with a bright future. They seem to have it all, until Mark loses his job and cracks start to appear in their perfect life.But they’re determined to make it work. They book their dream honeymoon and trust that things will work out – after all, they have each other.On the tropical island of Bora Bora Mark takes Erin scuba diving. Mark is with her – she knows he’ll keep her safe. Everything will be fine. Until they find something in the water.

Erin and Mark decide to keep their discovery a secret — after all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events… which will endanger everything they hold dear.

When you get invited on a blog tour for a book with all this acclaim, you definitely cannot wait to grab the book and – no pun intended – dive right in. I know that in a pretty hectic marketplace, it’s hard to find a thriller that really stands out and sets itself apart from all of the competition, but I can assure you that Something In The Water definitely does deserve the hype.

You all know how much I adore the Booktrail and I’m definitely recommending that you head there and check out their fantastic links for this book. They definitely know how to enhance a reading experience and you will be able to transport yourself off to Bora Bora with Erin and Mark and experience their ‘adventure’ alongside them through this fabulous resource.

When a novel opens with a killer phrase like – “Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave?” you know that you are in for a thrilling and unexpected read, and I was definitely in for that!It is immediately intriguing to wonder exactly whose grave has been dug, what happened to them and speculate about who you think was involved and to what extent their actions – or lack of them – might be linked to the murder. It’s hugely satisfying to me that lots of breadcrumbs are laid by Catherine Steadman in order to try and make sure we are kept on out toes land keep turning those pages until we think we can possibly get to the bottom of what exactly happened and who exactly is culpable

I hate spoilers, so I don’t want to dwell too long on the plot of Something In The Water– suffice to say that the skillful way that Catherine Steadman weaves the many and diverse strands of characters and settings in this thriller is superbly done and remains entertaining and intriguing throughout. I know at times it can feel like the fictional world is saturated with ‘whodunits’ with lots of potential perpetrators whose diverse timelines collide pleasingly and create plenty of room for speculation and questions but this time it’s really well done. The fast-paced plot zips along at a cracking pace, never letting up on the tension that is nicely manipulated by Steadman, adding in lots of opportunities to second-guess yourself and adding another layer of enjoyment for the reader

I loved the way that this novel wove both threads together – a convincing depiction of the ‘holiday of a lifetime’ juxtaposes nicely with Erin’s everyday life as a documentary filmmaker and allows you to move between them and get more insight as to how this could possibly have happened – and wonder if your guesses are correct. –I have little patience with naysayers who quibble about fine details and wonder how ‘believable’ plotlines like this are. This is not a kitchen-sink drama but a fast-paced escapist thriller, perfect for rattling through on your holidays and I guarantee that you’ll need to keep reapplying that sunscreen if you do – as you’ll not be able to step away from the action til you close the last page.

Something in the Water is definitely one of those novels that you should keep your eyes peeled for at the airport this summer and one that I will definitely be recommending to my friends – it packs a powerful punch; keeping you guessing throughout and firmly entertained by the fictional world it pulls you into.

If you enjoy an immersive and exciting piece of fiction that will keep you on your toes, then you will love this book as much as I did. I can’t wait to see what Catherine Steadman does next and I’d love to see Something in the Water on my screen one day. I’m a sucker for a fantastic pacy holiday read and feel like this one definitely ticks all the boxes.

If you feel intrigued and would like to order yourself a copy and find out for yourself what happened on this ‘Honeymoon with a difference’

Writer On The Shelf

Catherine Steadman

Catherine Steadman is an actress and writer based in North London. She has appeared in leading roles on British television as well as on stage in the West End, most recently in Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution in 2018.

In 2016 she was nominated for Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in Oppenheimer. She is best known for her role as Mabel Lane Fox in Downton Abbey.

She grew up in the New Forest and lives with a small dog and average sized man. Something in the Water is her first novel and her second is due for release in early 2020.

For readers of THE VIRGIN SUICIDES or THE GIRLS, a story of two extraordinary, magnetic women and their disappearances – a hundred years apart – from the small New England town they call home.

Henrietta and Jane are growing up in a farmhouse on the outskirts of town, their mother a remote artist, their father in thrall to the folklore and legend of their corner of New England. When Henrietta falls under the spell of Kaus, an outsider and petty criminal, Jane takes to trailing the couple, spying on their trysts, until one night, Henrietta vanishes into the woods.

Elspeth and Claire are sisters separated by an ocean. Elspeth’s pregnancy at seventeen meant she was quickly married and sent away from her Scottish village to make a new life in America. When she comes to the attention of the local mill owner, a series of wrenching and violent events unfolds, culminating in her disappearance.

As Jane and Claire search in their own times for their missing sisters, each uncovers the strange legend of Cold Thursday, and of a family apparently transformed into coyotes. But what does his myth really mean? Are their sisters dead, destroyed by the men who desired them? Or have they made new lives, elsewhere, beyond the watchful eyes of the community they longed to escape?

If you love a novel you can really get caught up in that will make you think about its characters long after you’ve finished reading it, then The Den might be your next favourite read. I’m always a sucker for any book that’s got the slightest connection to Scotland and I was really drawn in by Elspeth’s story in particular. I love books that transport me in time and place and I read this across a sunny Scottish weekend – totally losing myself in New England and Abi Maxwell’s fantastic sense of atmosphere in this immersive and haunting read.

The Den ‘s clever pairing of these two sets of sisters is a clever device that allows you to draw parallels and see the differences between their relationships across time and miles as both stories unfold in a dreamlike and intriguing way. The connecting device of ‘Cold Thursday’ was something that really drew me in as I love myths and legends and felt like this otherworldly tale of a family who turn into coyotes is successful in making us think about the parallels with predatory behaviours and their consequences in the sisters’ lives. This narrative form was very more-ish and several nights kept me up much later than I’d intended with a real sense of ‘just one more chapter…

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The strong plotting and skilful characterisation combine to draw you into a story bursting with secrets and the combination of myth and reality are used to strong effect. Abi Maxwell has a deft and distinct turn of phrase and recreates distinct thought patterns very skilfully in order to make them come to life in these pages. This is a slow and satisfying read, where you never really feel you get the chance to get to know these characters fully, which only increases their believability for me.

I enjoyed the mysterious atmosphere and the addictive sense that you are only ever seeing part of the picture as we follow events to their tragic conclusion. It’s hard to write about The Den with no spoilers, but I’ve tried really hard as this is a book that you really need to experience for yourself. There have been lots of comparisons to The Virgin Suicides and it’s easy to see why – there is that same mesmeric and dreamlike quality that really makes you effortlessly fall under this novel’s spell.

If you want a challenging and beautifully written book that asks you to think for yourself and trusts you to come to your own conclusions about subjects such as loyalty, families and loss, you’ll love this book and I know a few book-loving friends who are definitely going to be pinching it from me for their holidays. I’d like to thank Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour, I’m sure you’ll agree it looks absolutely gorgeous in my #OnTheShelfie

Writer On The Shelf

Abi Maxwell is the author of an acclaimed story collection, LAKE PEOPLE, and her fiction has also appeared in McSweeney’s. She studied writing at the University of Montana and now lives in New Hampshire, where she grew up, with her husband and son.